Occupation Known as Munitions Worker
Edith was the only Child of Annie and Albert Kershaw. When she married Fredrick George Fraser she was already about 5 months pregnant with there first child Alice.
When Doris was abandoned as a child, she was thought to have been around the age of four, her date of birth was unknown so they gave her the birth date as the day she was found abandoned, she was thought to have been abandoned in Bootle, Merseyside, also she was given the name (Cowen) thought maybe to have been her name before. She was adopted by the Smiths. a lot of the infomation I have on Doris Smith is sketchy, I don't think Doris knew exactly herself what her past was about.
Letter Sent to Doris from the News of the World on the 20th December 1967.
Dear Mrs Bury,
You can Only have a Birth Certificate if your birth has been registered and even then only if you are in the position to give the registration authorities some details to work on. Failing a Birth Certificate, however, it is possible to prove your age quite satisfactory by other means.
I enclose a detailed Leaflet on this that I think you will find helpful.
With all good wished.
your Sincerely
The John Hilton Bureau.Letter sent to Doris from the County Borough of Bootle on the 11th January 1968
Dear Mrs Bury re: Birth Certificate
Thank you for your letter and enclosure dated the 8th january 1968. I regret that as your Place of birth is not known I am Unable to obtain a copy of your birth certificate for you. There does not appear to be any record of your birth having been registered in Bootle, and the only suggestion I can make is that you apply for a search to be made at the general registration office.
It would appear from the information you have given me that your birth was probably registered in the name of Doris Ethel Cowen, and I suggest that you make an applicaton for a search to the General Registration Office, Somerset House, London, W.C.2. I understand the cost of the search is 6s. 3d. and you should supply as much detail as you can.
I am returning herewith your postal order to the value of 12s. 6d. and I hope that you will be successful in obtaining a birth certificate
Your Faithfully
Director of EducationLetter sent to Doris from the General Register Office on the 24th January 1968
Dear Sir/Madam,
You wrote recently for a certificate of the birth of Doris Ethel Cowen in Bootle on the 8th May 1911.
A search has been made in the indexes to births registered in England/Wales during 1909-1913 inclusive, but no trace has been found of an entry agreeing with the particulars you supplied.
The sum of 6s. 3d., the fee payable for the search had been deducted from your remittance of 12s. 6d. and the balance of 6s. 3d. is returned herewithThis was the last attempt Doris made to search for her true birth certificate